Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-01-15
GTIXEE =.


The interest in the CiuVerius case has in
no wise abated, it still being the main theme
of conversation hereabouts, and the news
paper accounts of the hanging published
yesterday afternoon and this morning have
been read with interest.
The last night spent By the unfortunate
Young man upon earth was uneventful, hav-
ing been passed in the same stoical manner
characteristic OF the individual. He was
calm. cool, and collected, and did not lie
down to rest until o'clock. Most of his
time he spent in writing. He slept well,
but ycas reused by some conversation about
Z. He then turned over on his iron cot ana
inquired the time; then fell into coze
again, from which he was awakened about
9 yesterday morning. The prisoner arose
aud made his toilet when Mr.. Crrmp and
DR.. Hatcher left the cell and stopped out
side for g moment or two IN conversation.
The faces of both of them betrayed excite,
ment, which they struggled to Tepress ara
hide. When Cluveriu5 had dressed they re-
turned 10 the room. Soon afterwards Mr..
Crump took his final leave. The occupants
of the cell then were DR.. Hatcher,
Sergeant Smith, Deputy Macon, Mr..
Dunn, and the prisoner. Several pray
ers were offered. DR.. Hatcher leading
After PRAYERS were over Deputy Allen
entered with the black waterproof gown
and couple of stout ropes. The prisoner 5
hands were tied in front Of him a1d the
gown was wrapped around him, covering
him from the neck to below mis- knees His
soft. drab colored hat was placed upon his
head slightly to one eide. The march to
the pallows was then begun. Mr.. Dunn
threw wide open the big, ponderous doors,
and the party emerged into the passage IN
the following order
First, Deputy Sergeant Macon. Second,
Sergeant Smith and the prisoner. Third,
DR.. Hatcher anG Deputy Sergeant Allen.
At the head of the steps leading down to
the Jail yard the procession was augment
ed by Captain Peasants, Of the First police
station, and three police officers. As the
cOrtege slowly and silently moved down the
two fights of stairs the populace outside
caught glimpse ofthe prisoner, and set up
o loud yell. Cluverius, entirely calm and
collected, with the same smile which has
ever played around his mouth looked
around him with an unexcelled serenity
True, he was pale, but there was
no evidence OF the slightest emotion.
When the scafod was reached the order
was broken, and Deputy Macon led with
the prisoner, who assembled the sixteen steps
| with a firm tread and no wavering, imme
dately after him, Then came DR.. Hatcher
Sergeant Smith and Deputy Sergeant Allen.
| CluYerius walked to the trap door, and
stood in the centre of it, directly under the
bright silk rope which was soon to end his
existence Cluverius faced the crowd, but
did not lift his eyes from the floor. The
prisoner wore very solemn, sad face, but
evinced no nervousness. He appeared to
be resigned to his fate. Deputy-Sergeant
Allen, after tying Cluverius's legs, put the
black silk cap, which had long hood or
skirt coming down over his face and touch
ing the shoulder, on his head, and adjusted
the silk rope about his neck, leaving the
knot Just back of his left ear. He then re-
tired, and left only Deputy. Sergeant Macon
on the scafIold, and he stood back Of Gu
verins, so that he could not see the prison
er's face. When the black cap Was being
nut on his mead his face turned redder than
| it has ever been seen before but still he did
not even shudder.
At1:OS} o'clock Deputy. Sergeant Macon
gave signal and Deputy Sergeant John
son ierked the cord When the drop was
made many people turned their heads and
looked away from the scatlold, but largely
the majority OF them gazed upon the victim
and watched every movement @! his body.
Some became very nervous, but most of
them watched the dreadful spectacle with
out being moved in the least Cluverius
shot through the opening made by the
spripping of the door like bullet from a
rifle. He whirled around about seven or
eight times until the rope was straight, and
| then for about five seconds stood suspended
| in midair as if life was extinct. Then there
commenced 8 slight twitching of his feet
and legs, which became moro and more vic.
lent until they became like severe spasm.
His limbs would first draw up and then
stretch out, and he kicked fiercely. The
most horrifying sounds Of choking and
stranpulation could be heard clearly all
over the yard. This was kept up for several
minutes, when it began to die down, and
finally the body hung lifeless Three min
utes after the drop DR.. W. T. Oppenheimer
found that his pulse was 90 at six minutes
it had increased to $50 (; at eight minutes it
had fallen to 80, and at ten minutes it ceased
to beat, and he was pronounced dead.
Sheriff South ward so adjusted the rope as
to make the fall seven feet, but the distance
from the scaffold to the ground wes eleven
feet. The rope stretched at least three feet,
as the prisoners feet reached within ten or
twelve inches of the ground The rope
continued to stretch, and when Cluyerius
was pronounced dead the toe Of his right
shoe was brushing the sawdust, which was
about quarter of an inch deep on the
ground. The knot in the rope came very
near coming united, and failed 10 slip en-
tirely Had the moose slipped C!uveiius's
feet would in all probability have touched
the ground before like was extinct.
AS it took Cluverius ten minutes to die,
many persons were inclined to the opinion
that death was caused by strangulation in.
stead of his neck being broken. DR.. Open
heimer was asked about it. He said, from
the examination that he had been able to
make while the body was suspended, ne had
no doubt that the neck was broken. Other
physicians were of the same opinion.
gentleman who was ct the undertaker's shop
in the afternoon made close examination
of the body, and states that the neck was
certainly broken. He moved the head, and